I actually started two new hives from packages last year. There was some trouble with the shipper and we got the packages in June. I think this led to a slow build up and not enough strength to make it through a weird winter. I lost both these hives, which was consistent with many of the local beekeepers. Anyway a new beginning...
April 17
I got two nucs this year from Richard Taylor, 164 S. Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, VA. 23451, 203-803-5262. He got an order of nucs from a provider in North Carolina. They are a hybrid bee that is supposed to be a strong producer These were overwintered nucs. My son-in-law also got four nucs from him, so it will be interesting to compare notes.
Here are the nucs in the back of my truck. The boxes were a little beat up, but they were heavy :)
After setting up my son-in-law's hives I brought my two back home. I had previously set up two deep boxes with 4 frames and an extra medium on top as Richard said these would build up rapidly. On the opening the nucs the bees were very active and full. I moved the frames into their new homes. I put four of the frames next to each other but split one apart with an empty frame to encourage them to build out. I put an inner over on the top, with a quart jar of sugar water over the opening and covered it with another deep box and cover.
Here is the set-up with the empty nuc boxes set to allow the remaining bees to find their new home. I took the nuc boxes away the next day as they were empty. I saw lots of orientation flights as the bees got used to their new home.
April 27, 29
I went back in to check on the bees today. They were doing great! Bees had already moved up to the top box and had already about 1/4 filled the box! It was a nice warm day and the bees were out enjoying the weather. So - I needed to get some new boxes ready to go on top. I had some old comb and frames set aside, but also made some new frames with reinforced foundation to put on top. I went back in on Sunday to add the new boxes. It was a much cooler day and as such the bees were much quieter. Although I had the smoker going, I really did not need it except to move the bees a bit. I put a queen excluder in the second box then the new box on top of that. I have mixed feelings about queen excluders - so this is another experiment to see how they do. My worry is that the bees will not move up past the excluder and I may be promoting swarming, but it is nice not to have brood in my honey supers....we'll see. Here is a pic of the final set-up:
